Join us March 13 at 6:30 pm when filmmakers Tom and Amy Valens will be at Blue Oak School for a screening of August To June open to the whole community. Many years before August To June was made, Blue … Continue reading
Long before August to June, in the early 1980′s Tom Valens made a 45 minute documentary about the same school! To Make A Difference has the same intimate style as August To June, but is more of an overview of … Continue reading
Kindergarten teacher Susan DuFresne and her husband Shawn are are taking their repurposed school bus cross country, giving away books and talking about the testing juggernaut, determined to instigate change one person at a time. This is such a creative way … Continue reading
I got a letter from Diane Feinstein today about the latest version of ESEA. sigh. I include it at the bottom of this post. Here is my response. May it inspire you to write your own. Dear Senator Feinstein, All … Continue reading
I am often asked about the children who we followed in August To June. They were in third and fourth grade in 2005/6. This past June those third graders graduated high school! While I am still waiting to hear back … Continue reading
Tell your two U.S. Senators to vote for Sen. Jon Tester’s amendment to reduce federally mandated standardized testing from every-kid-every-year to once each in elementary, middle and high schools. The Senate will vote the week of July 7 on a … Continue reading
I just finished the recently published book, Loving Learning. Written by Tom Little with important help from Katherine Ellison, it is a more than a guide to some of the places where progressive education is thriving today. Taking each of … Continue reading
Less Testing More Learning! If we raise our voices together, we can persuade the Senate Education Committee to reduce testing requirements as it debates renewal of Elementary and Secondary Education Act/No Child Left Behind. Please take a few minutes on … Continue reading
Now’s the time to contact your U.S. Senators and Representatives to reduce federally mandated testing! Our children deserve less testing and more learning. Your voice can make a difference! Go here to add your letter to congress.
Dear Friends, When August To June came out in January 2011, few in the general population were aware of the shift in priorities that had taken place in schools. What a difference three years makes! Now every week FairTest publishes … Continue reading